Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – May 24, 2018 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Vandeham vighna netarām vighnānam .. sajjanāh
This is the first verse in Nitimala. Last morning, Sri Kuppa Krishnamurty had given elaborate explanation regarding this verse. A little while ago, even our dearest Appaji explained this essence. During His explanation, Swamiji had said ‘Ganapati is the Lord who creates obstacles. To Him we offer obeisance’. He is Vighneshwara.
An obstacle is defined as sorrow, difficulty or knot that arises in our path. In this world is there anyone who propagates the worship of one who creates obstacles? Only we do so. This is the greatness of our ancient dharma. We revere even those who create obstacles in our path. (people clap hearing this). During Kriya yoga exercises Sri Swamiji had mentioned that clapping is a very good exercise which energizes the body. As such, you can all clap to your hearts’ content now.
Sri Swamiji also mentioned that Ganapati creates obstacles in our path only in order to reform us.
A few years ago, a very good doctor devotee called Dasari Srinivas Rao served the ashram and through it obtained upliftment. He was spiritually oriented and was one of those who utilized his stay in ashram effectively in this direction. In the ashram there are some who remain like stones in River Ganga. Ganga washes away the sins of many and uplifts them, however the stones in the river fail to utilize this opportunity. They remain as they are even after centuries. This doctor would say, ‘Swamiji creates problems and He alone resolves them’. He would further say, ‘Sri Swamiji creates problems only with the intent of reforming and uplifting us’.
Good thoughts and Guru nama-smarana should be used to digest the food eaten. If this is practised, the food we eat will fill us with good strength, vigour, health and energy.
Understanding the instructions given by our Sadguru (Guru vakya), holding on to them and putting them into practice is the primary duty of a disciple. This is his/her fundamental duty. Just as people in the desert chase water, we should chase Guru’s words. Just as they preserve every drop of water, a devotee should preserve every word uttered by his Guru. Only then he is eligible to be addressed as a true devotee.
Guru speech (vak) should become our vak. It is our primary dharma. As our Sadguru wants us to learn Nitimala, it becomes our duty to memorise these verses. In the next birthday celebrations, I propose that Nitimala memorizing contest should be conducted. For those who have already mastered 700 verses of Bhagavad Gita, memorizing 140 verses of Nitimala is no difficult accomplishment. You can easily complete this.
Today is Thursday – a very good day for devotion. It is a special day for devotees. Any new task can be confidently begun on Thursday, such is its power. If the other five days of the week are the limbs of the body, Sunday is the heart and Thursday is the life-force (prana). On that day in many homes devotees perform Guru paduka puja.
Thursday is known as Guruvāra. Here Guru means Brihaspati (Jupiter) a very powerful planet. Brihad means extremely huge. Brihaspati is also called Jivah or Guru. He has taken on a tremendous responsibility. What is his responsibility? To dispel the ignorance of his devotees and disciples. Devotees must primarily worship Sadguru to remove their spiritual ignorance as none apart from Guru can help in this aspect. As he has taken on such immense responsibility, he is known as Brihaspati (huge). Brihaspati has come down as Swamiji and in order to help us has composed Nitimala.
It is our fortune that Nitimala conference was also held yesterday i.e. Wednesday or Budhavara. Budha means Jnana. Hence learning of this important knowledge was begun on Wednesday, a day ideally suited for knowledge.
During my childhood I was memorizing Amarakosha, a Sanskrit dictionary. In Sanskrit language, when we recite a verse – its meaning, synonyms as well as its source – are all understood intuitively by the mind. This is the speciality of this language.
In this text, while defining Brihaspati a specific point is mentioned. It is known to us that everyone has a vehicle – at least a car, bus, cycle or legs to take him/her from one place to another. Therefore, vehicle is defined as that which transports us from one location to another. In Ayurveda, the medicine is mixed with honey or water and consumed, in such case this liquid becomes the vehicle as it helps the patient absorb the medicine. Brihaspati has a vehicle known as Nitighoshah, using which he travels towards us.
While analysing horoscope we check the Guru balam (power of Jupiter or the grace of Guru planet which helps override other planetary effects). Astrologically Guru balam is seen for naming ceremony, house warming, marriage or other good activities. It is said that if Guru planet is strong, it is considered auspicious irrespective of other planetary positions. We, the devotees have Sachchidananda Guru balam in abundance.
In order to understand the supremacy of Guru, there are many hymns. ‘Devanam ca rishi nam ca’ – is the dhyana shloka for Guru Brihaspati. It implies – Brihaspati is a planet that dazzles like gold. He is the Guru for Devatas and Maharishis. He is of unsurpassed wisdom and is the Lord for all the three worlds.
Indra, the Lord of the Devatas, acts only in accordance to the words of his Guru Brihaspati. He will never override his Guru’s words. Such a supreme Guru Brihaspati uses Nitighoshah (moral standards) as a vehicle to reach us. It thus implies- your ethical lifestyle (neeti) is itself the vehicle that causes him to travel towards you. When you begin to live ethically, it implies that the grace of Guru has fallen upon you.
‘Neeti’ includes abiding by the dharmic rules, i.e. living per dharma. ‘Ghosha’ customarily means loud chanting- although in reality even mental chanting is included. It is the energy which arises within us due to this abidance. Through abidance with righteous, ethical way of life, we can acquire Guru’s grace. It is therefore imperative for anyone who seeks Guru’s grace, to lead a righteous, moral life.
Our Sadguru Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji has composed Nitimala and is using it as a vehicle to enter into the space called our minds. We can confidently state that our Sadguru has mounted the vehicle called Nitimala and is travelling towards our hearts.
Why does Sri Swamiji use the word ‘māla’ frequently? We have Bhajana mala, Niti mala, Bhakti mala and the like. Māla means garland. We commonly offer garland to Him, but He says that if we wear these three garlands around our neck He will travel towards us. Its effect is similar to the Datta vastram which attracts Swamiji’s attention towards the person who wears it. At the inception of Bhaktimala a wonderful verse was composed which said- if you wear the garland called Bhaktimala around your neck, the girl called liberation will marry you. Similarly, we can confidently state that the girl called good energy (shakti) or the girl called devotion (bhakti) will marry the person who diligently abides by this Nitimala.
In 1995, in Trinidad Swamiji had named this composition as Nitimala. Now there was a gentleman who disliked this name.
When people are critical of our actions, we should take it in the positive spirit. It is incorrect to expect everyone to be appreciative of our work. We should be able to accept criticism constructively. When a child gives her first dance performance, critics come forward and explain to her the mistakes. If the child takes it positively, she soars great heights.
Now this gentleman wanted me to convey to Swamiji his disapproval of the name. I refused, but offered to organize a meeting between him and Swamiji on the issue. He met Swamiji, applauded Him for the wonderful composition but then expressed his disapproval of the name. Swamiji asked him to discuss the matter with Kuppa Krishnamurty and finalize the name. If Krishnamurty agrees, I will agree – said Swamiji. I was fortunate to witness to the high philosophical debate that took place between two eminent scholars. During such discussions, a great churning of the philosophical subjects takes place. This discussion lasted for over 3 sessions each of which spanned a few hours.
Why did the gentleman initially oppose the name Nitimala? He gave many examples of how the name Niti was used in the past to explain matters relating to politics. Krishnamurty was defensive that once Sadguru gives a name, it is final. Both were unrelenting in their stand and, through many examples, were justifying their stand. When at last it appeared that the gentlemen would never concede, what magically happened no one knows, but the gentlemen approached Swamiji and consented to this naming this text as Nitimala.
Niti means that which takes us to the shore or that which guides us. It takes us closer to Swamiji while bringing Him closer to us. This is the power contained in Nitimala. It helps us tread the path of righteousness. It shows the various ways that help us both in this world and the next. For instance, regarding civilized social living, Nitimala states:
Yatra kodhepi sadbhāsa – even during times of anger, we should not use abusive words.
It is but natural to get angry at some point or the other. Perhaps the actions, words or behaviour of some may irritate us. Do not use anger as a tool to use harsh words. In some homes, parents quarrel in front of their kids using abusive words. Every abusive word has a negative repercussion upon us. Impurity in speech, action, mantra and in mental thought has its own terrible repercussions. Shastra states that impurity in speech causes the person to be reborn as a diseased bird in a dilapidated forest wherein even fruits and water are unavailable. We should therefore be cautious of every word uttered by us. Even prior to such birth, in this birth itself the person will undergo horrible suffering.
As such it is imperative to control the tongue at times of anger. Moodhamate (dim witted) is the worst abuse in Sanskrit language. But in other languages words far worse than this are used. Children these days, influenced by the media, use abusive language. Men behave badly without respecting wife, sister or any other woman. It is saddening.
Swamiji therefore teaches us to refrain from using negative words even at times of uncontrolled anger. Even in the mind such bad words should never run. If at a later date or subsequently during puja we remember those harsh words, the mind will be pained.
Yatra nārīshu gouravam – The society where women are respected.
In many homes women are disrespected or are addressed disrespectfully. It is unholy. In this country, when even rivers are respectfully addressed, how can we abuse women?
Yatra dharma svatantratvam – in matters pertaining to righteousness, we should maintain independence.
Even if the society is treading the unrighteous path, we should adamantly continue our dharmic path. We should remain uninfluenced by them. Why did we attain independence? It was to continue abidance to our culture and dharma that we sought independence. If after independence we seek to imitate the lifestyle of the persons who previously ruled us, then where is independence? Those who left us are trying to adhere to our culture.
Sā jāti samskŗta mata – such country and its people will truly prosper.
This is the beauty of this verse.